Month: March 2015

Verse 43: Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty, put in everything – all that she had to live on.” In this passage, we recognize that God isn’t impressed by the “spectacular” or “showy” things that we do. It’s not those things that grabs His attention – It’s our heart. God is concerned with our heart and why we do … Read More

Job 31:6 God is the God of balance. This doesn’t mean He is undecided between faith and unbelief. This doesn’t mean He is lukewarm; being neither hot nor cold. Neither does He desire that you and I be “lukewarm”. God wants us to be radically saved, extremely blessed. God cares about our WHOLE PERSON and our WHOLE LIFE. Proverbs 20:23 says, ” a false balance” is not good”. Job 31:6 says “Let me be weighed in an even balance”. An unbalanced Christian lifestyle is not pleasing to God. A balanced … Read More

As we finish up this book, I sense the Spirit calling me to highlight the author’s final prayer. Take a few moments, get alone, go to a quiet place and then pray this prayer, knowing that this journey has not ended it has only begun…all for your blessing and God’s glory. “Lord after reading this book, I need to be with You – for a long time. I know that at other times I have rushed and cut You short, but I can see that there are a lot of … Read More

Ecclesiastes 3:4-‘a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.’ Developing a “Rule of Life” can be one of the most challenging components to developing emotionally healthy spirituality. We are called to have fun to behold the glory of God’s creation. Service satisfies the scriptural principle that ‘he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed’ (Prov. 11:25). Caring for your physical health means you make a conscious effort to pay careful attention to all of your body’s key vital signs. Growing … Read More

“My personal Rule of Life is a constantly changing document. It is a ‘live’ work in progress – always.” (pg. 200) ‘Live’ work in progress … how exciting! Know what that means? God’s work in us isn’t complete. As we mature in Christ, our “Rule of Life” changes/adapts. Some basic elements to help you begin: Scripture – God speaks to us through the Word Silence & Solitude – Quiet & stillness allow us to hear Daily Office – This will look different for each person Study – Study with the … Read More

“The great, buried gift in a Rule of Life is its goal of regulating our entire lives in such a way that we truly prefer the love of Christ above all things. God has made each of us unique and different. Our goal is the same: union with God in Christ, transformation into his image, and the freeing of our hearts from anything that stands in the way of Christ living in and through us.” (page198) Looking at the Rule of Life, the purpose is to keep Jesus the … Read More

“We are called to order our lives around spiritual practices and disciplines-that is, a “Rule of Life,” something utterly foreign to the world around us. It is a call to order our entire life in such a way that the love of Christ comes before all else.” We have been talking about the presence of God the past few weeks. Many of us have made a fresh commitment to pursue the presence of God on a daily bases. Developing a “Rule of Life” is important when it comes to “beholding … Read More

Isaiah 64:3 We go into this journey of life totally unaware of what to expect. All throughout it, even when we think we know what’s headed our way, we find that we draw a complete blank. “God, I don’t know what I’m waiting on. I’m just waiting on something that I know hasn’t come. “It can be frustrating when we don’t know exactly what we are waiting for. When we have no earthly idea what we need from God, we just expect that God does; and whatever that need turns … Read More

To have healthy relationships there must be respect and respect isn’t just a feeling we work-up, instead it is how we intentionally choose and actively commit to treating the people in our world on an everyday basis. Complete this quiz about how well you respect others, taking a moment to let God speak to you about each area. Space and Privacy? Accepting differences? Allowing to disagree? Really hearing others? Taking others seriously? Giving the benefit of the doubt? Telling the truth? Consulting others when your decisions will affect them? Understanding … Read More

Matthew 5:9- “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God”. “You can’t have the true peace of Christ’s kingdom with lies and pretense. They must be exposed to the light and replaced with the truth.” p.185 We live in a culture saturated with false fronts, pretending that everything is ok. It is in much of our marketing and our personal relationships. Jesus though, brought peace through confrontation. Don’t bow to false peace…with others, with yourself, and especially with God. Where do you need to embrace conflict … Read More